QADER Organizes an Event on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities under the Title “Our Resilience Lies in Our Inclusion”

QADER for Community Development organized a large-scale event on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities under the title “Our Resilience Lies in Our Inclusion,” under the patronage of the Governor of Jericho and the Jordan Valley and with the participation of the Deputy Governor, Mr. Ismail Abu Jaber, representatives of the security services, the representative of the Ministry of Local Government, Mr. Sayel Hanoon, representatives of partner municipalities, and members of the Youth Accountability Teams from 15 towns and cities in the governorates of Hebron, Bethlehem, and Salfit.

In her welcoming remarks, Mrs. Shireen Mauge, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of QADER, affirmed that QADER continues its work to promote an inclusive environment that guarantees the rights of persons with disabilities, noting that this occasion constitutes an opportunity to renew commitment to the issues of inclusion and equality. She also extended her appreciation to the members of the Youth Accountability Teams for their pioneering role in promoting the community participation of persons with disabilities, commending their active presence and continuous contribution to supporting the principles of partnership and inclusion.

For his part, Mr. Ismail Abu Jaber emphasized that the Governorate of Jericho and the Jordan Valley continuously seek to support the inclusion of persons with disabilities and works toward the coordination of efforts among all organizations to uphold their rights. He stressed that the Governorate will continue to embrace initiatives and projects that contribute to strengthening inclusion and empowering the most vulnerable groups.

Mr. Sayel Hanoon, representative of the Ministry of Local Government, also underscored the importance of the role of local authorities in improving the quality of services provided to persons with disabilities and in adopting standards that ensure universal access and accessible infrastructure, to guarantee their full participation in society.

The event also witnessed the distribution of honorary shields to representatives of partner local authorities in recognition of their effective partnership and dedicated efforts to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the local community. This recognition came as a message of appreciation and continuity of the existing partnership between QADER and local authorities that have contributed over past years to the development of programs and services responsive to community needs.

It is worth noting that this event was held at the conclusion of the strategic meeting of the Youth Accountability Teams, which took place over 3 days in the city of Jericho, with the aim of strengthening the collective efforts of the teams in advocacy and inclusive community-based accountability. This was implemented within the framework of the project “Enhancing the Inclusion and Resilience of Local Communities in the West Bank through Capacity Building,” in partnership with the international organization Christian Blind Mission (CBM) and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), across 15 towns and cities in the governorates of Hebron, Bethlehem, and Salfit. The project aims to strengthen local capacities in inclusive community development and to enhance youth-led community accountability by activating their role (both males and females) within an inclusive approach that seeks to increase the social and economic participation of persons with disabilities. The project also works to apply the principles and practices of accountability toward local authorities and official organizations within the framework of their responsibilities and obligations toward persons with disabilities, thereby contributing to improving their quality of life.